Department for Transport

Tolls: Greater London

Lord Goodlad: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the Mayor of London about ending (1) the temporary rise in cost, and (2) the extension of the hours of operation, of the Congestion Charge; and what has been the outcome of any such representations.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The Government has agreed a further extraordinary funding and financing package for TfL of up to £1.7bn to ensure the continuation of public transport services in London. Transport in London is devolved and decisions around the congestion charge are a matter for the Mayor. As part of this deal the mayor agreed that the current temporary changes to the daily charge, operating hours and days of the Congestion Charge will be maintained as a continuing response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Climate Change Convention

Baroness Boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have for a public engagement strategy for COP26, following the report by Bright Blue, Going Greener? Public Attitudes to Net Zero, published 12 October, which stated that 58 per cent of people asked did not think that the UK would reach net zero by 2050.

Lord Callanan: In preparation for COP26, the Cabinet Office has set up a dedicated engagement team that will facilitate engagement with businesses, wider civil society and youth, and cities and regions on COP26. This will ensure that the UK brings along all of society in the global transition to a net-zero economy and in the delivery of an ambitious and inclusive COP26 summit. We will continue to engage the public as we develop our plans for reaching net zero emissions by 2050.

Climate Change Convention

Baroness Boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what scrutiny mechanisms they plan to propose to Parliament for the scrutiny of COP26 sponsorship agreements.

Baroness Boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to limit sponsorship for COP26 (1) to companies which have a plan to half their emissions by 2030, and (2) to companies that have disclosed plans that are aligned with the Paris Agreement goal of limiting global warming to1.5 degrees.

Baroness Boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government how muchfundingthey expect to raise from sponsorship for COP26; and whether they will provide a breakdown of that funding.

Baroness Boycott: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan (1) to publish the historic and current emissions of any COP26 sponsors, or (2) to place a requirement on potential sponsors to publish their historic and current emissions.

Lord Callanan: Sponsorship is an important part of our funding arrangements for COP26, supporting the successful delivery of an event with the level of ambition required to tackle the urgent challenge of climate change; and enhancing value for money for taxpayers. The names of any confirmed sponsor will be published on the COP26 website. The Government will conduct due diligence on all potential sponsors and ensure compliance with rigorous standards. Environmental transparency and disclosure is vital to track progress towards a net zero economy, and this is one of the criteria that the Government is using to assess potential sponsors. The Government has set strict sponsorship criteria for COP26 and will only partner with companies who have set net-zero commitments by 2050 or earlier, and who have published a credible and aligned short-term action plan to achieve this. The Government is encouraging companies with strong climate credentials to apply for sponsorship through the COP26 website.

Insolvency

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many pre-pack administrations were referred to the Pre Pack Pool in each week since May.

Lord Callanan: There were 20 referrals to the Pre-Pack Pool between 1 May 2020 and 27 October 2020.The table below shows the number of referrals for each week where referrals were received. For all other weeks there were zero referrals.Referrals made to the Pre-Pack Pool between 1 May 2020 and 27 October 2020Week commencingNumber of pre-pack referrals1 June 202018 June 2020115 June 2020129 June 202016 July 2020413 July 2020510 Aug 2020124 Aug 2020228 Sept 2020219 Oct 20202

Insolvency

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will list all the meetings or communications that have taken place between the Insolvency Service and the Pre Pack Pool.

Lord Callanan: The Pre-Pack Pool was established in 2015. Since then, the Insolvency Service has had numerous meetings and communications (in the form of e-mails, letters and telephone conversations) with the directors of Pre-Pack Pool Ltd and the Pre-Pack Pool Oversight Group. The Oversight Group comprises the Pool directors and representatives from the insolvency regulatory bodies, R3 the trade body for insolvency professionals and other interested stakeholders. My reply to the noble Lord on 3rd August 2020 to Question HL7302 advised that officials from the Insolvency Service had attended three meetings with the Pre-Pack Pool Oversight Group in 2019 and one in 2020. Since that reply, they have had one further meeting with the directors of Pre-Pack Pool Limited.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 30 October (HL9430), what assessment they have made of whether their financial contribution to the work of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator is Official Development Assistance compliant.

Baroness Sugg: The breakdown of the UK's financial contribution to the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A) is outlined in the Written Answer HL9851. This includes up to £548 million for the COVAX Advance Market Commitment, up to £250 million of UK aid to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), up to £40 million to the COVID-19 Therapeutics Accelerator, and up to £23 million to the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).We have assessed this spend, and the vital work it supports, to be eligible as Official Development Assistance (ODA) under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ODA Directives. In line with these Directives, the primary purpose of the UK's ODA spend in this area is to promote the welfare and economic development of developing countries, and address the problems they face due to COVID-19. This includes ensuring that organisations supported to drive the research and development of effective vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments negotiate access agreements with private sector partners, and prioritise products that are suitable to the contexts, systems, and population needs of people in developing countries. This will be crucial in mitigating the humanitarian and economic crisis they face from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 30 October (HL9430), what mechanisms they have put in place to assess the effectiveness of their financial contribution to the work of the Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator.

Baroness Sugg: The Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator is a coalition of partners, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Wellcome Trust, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Unitaid, the Global Fund, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), and others. The UK is a founding member of the ACT-Accelerator, and provides strategic guidance through representation on the ACT-Accelerator Facilitation Council.The UK funds leading organisations that are committed to delivering the ACT-Accelerator's objectives. The breakdown of these financial contributions is outlined in the Written Answer HL9851. FCDO funding agreements with these partners set out objectives for UK funding, and are subject to rigorous programme management procedures, including routine financial and results reporting, audits, and annual reviews. The UK is an active participant in governance boards and committees for multi-donor funded organisations, including Gavi and CEPI, and works with other donors to set objectives, monitor performance, and ensure strong financial management and reporting.

Department for Work and Pensions

Coronavirus: Disease Control

The Earl of Shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, or plan to make, of the use of (1) tunnel, and (2) pod, disinfection systemsto protect against COVID-19.

The Earl of Shrewsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the substances used in (1) tunnel, and (2) pod, disinfection systems; and what were the results of any such assessment.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Her Majesty's Government’s assessment is that disinfectants (that may be used in tunnel and pod disinfection systems) which are used to control/kill harmful organisms such as bacteria and viruses etc. can pose risks to humans, animals and the environment due to their intrinsic properties and associated use patterns, and as such are strictly regulated under the Biocidal Products Regulation 528/2012 (EU BPR). In respect of Covid-19, Her Majesty’s Government’s position on the use of tunnel and pod disinfection systems, formed and based upon a report produced by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on cleaning and disinfecting of environmental surfaces (Covid-19 Situation Report 115), is that it is not recommended for individuals to be sprayed with disinfectant under any circumstances. WHO Situation Report 115 concludes that spraying individuals with disinfectant could be physically and psychologically harmful and would not reduce an infected person’s ability to spread SARS-CoV-2 through droplets or contact.

Home Office

Asylum: Glasgow

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to improve the management of temporary accommodation for asylum applicants in Glasgow; whether they intend to consult (1) the Scottish Refugee Council, and (2) Glasgow MPs, on this matter; and whether any such consultation will incorporate (a) mental health provision, and (b) the use of contractors.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: Glasgow provides a safe haven and welcome to Asylum Seekers and we are very grateful for the support the city provides.We are committed to ensuring that the services provided to the people we support are of the required quality. The Home Office has commissioned an evaluation of the accommodation and support services offered to asylum seekers in Glasgow during COVID-19 – seeking feedback from MPs and the voluntary sector.Meanwhile the Home Office continues to work with Glasgow City Council (GCC) LA and the Scottish Government via the Glasgow Partnership Board and the Regional Delivery and Procurement Group regular (currently bi weekly meetings) to explore all accommodation procurement options available and ensure appropriate support is provided.However, the Home Office does not directly commission health services. These are provided through the Asylum Health Bridging Team, part of the Glasgow City Council Health and Social Care Partnership.It should also be noted that the reduction of contingency accommodation in Glasgow is dependent upon both LA sign off for accommodation procurement requests and the progressing those cases that are in the LAs remit including working with Home Office to process cases that have had their asylum application concluded.

Fireworks: Safety

Baroness Clark of Kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the cancellation of organised fireworks displays this year, what steps they are taking (1) to ensure bonfire night safety, and (2) to prevent firework related injuries.

Baroness Williams of Trafford: The Government is taking action to promote the safe and considerate use of fireworks through a public awareness campaign which was launched on 20th October. The campaign includes messaging for consumers on how to buy, store, use and dispose of fireworks safely.Fire and rescue authorities were provided with materials, through the Home Office Fire Kills campaign, to support this Government campaign and deliver firework safety messages locally.More information on the Government’s Firework Safety campaign is available on gov.uk: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/opss-launches-firework-safety-campaign

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Digital Technology

Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to close the digital divide.

Baroness Barran: We continue to take steps to roll out gigabit capable broadband to every home and business in the UK, including a £5bn investment ensuring the whole of the UK benefits from a world class broadband infrastructure. Current gigabit coverage is over 27% of the UK and growing quickly, this is compared to under 5% just two years ago. Mobile coverage is also improving, thanks to our landmark Shared Rural Network agreement with the mobile network operators - the first of its kind in the world - 95% of the UK will have 4G coverage by the end of 2025.The introduction of the Digital Entitlement means that adults with no or low digital skills can undertake new digital qualifications up to Level 1 free of charge. The Government also supports the Future Digital Inclusion Programme. Since 2014, the programme has helped over 1.4 million people to gain the digital skills they need for life and work.In response to Covid-19 the Government invested over £195 million to support remote education. Part of this included delivering over 220,000 laptops and tablets over the summer term for vulnerable and disadvantaged children who would not otherwise have access. We are also making available 250,000 additional laptops and tablets (100,000 of these have been delivered since September) for disadvantaged children to supplement this in the event face-to-face schooling is disrupted as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.